First aid: myths vs reality

Seventy-five per cent of British adults do not know basic first aid, according to a new study. However, many say they would try and administer first aid to an injured person.

With nearly half of all GPs saying this could exacerbate an injury, we look at eight top first aid myths and tell you what you really should be doing.

Myth: applying butter to a burn will soothe the pain

Reality: butter and oil hold in the heat, which is what makes them so good for cooking and so bad for burns.

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What to do: to soothe the pain, cool the area as quickly as possible – placing the area under cool (not icy) running water for about 10 minutes before applying an antiseptic or a cooling burns gel, which will quickly ease the inflammation and protect against infection.

Warning: if a burn is larger than a postage stamp or is blistering – always seek medical advice.

Myth: breathing into a paper bag will ease hyperventilation

Reality: never breathe into a paper bag - it can cause dangerously low oxygen levels.

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What to do: there are a lot of reasons why someone might hyperventilate (breathe fast), so you should calmly encourage them to breathe slowly and deeply. One trick is to ask them to hold his or her breath, then exhale and hold another breath. Repeat this exercise until he or she begins to relax.

Warning: if someone is complaining of chest pain with hyperventilation, call 999.

Myth: clearing a child's throat with your fingers will stop them choking

Reality: a Red Cross survey found this is what 53 per cent of parents would do. Yet placing fingers into the throat could cause damage to the child's throat.

What to do: stand or kneel behind your child and give up to five blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Check the mouth quickly after each one and remove any obvious obstruction. If the obstruction is still present, give up to five abdominal thrusts (place a clenched fist above the naval and pull inwards and upwards).

Warning: if the obstruction does not clear, dial 999 and continue until help arrives and resuscitate if necessary.

Myth: tipping a person's head back to stop a nosebleed

Reality: tipping the head back of someone with a nosebleed can cause the patient to choke or swallow their own blood and vomit.

What to do: ask the patient to lean forward and use the thumb and forefingers to pinch the tip of the nose - rather than the hard bit of the nose - for 5 to 10 minutes. Discourage them from coughing or swallowing until the bleeding stops.

Warning: if a nosebleed doesn't stop or the person feels dizzy or weak, see a doctor.

Myth: scraping or sucking out a bee sting will ease the pain

Reality: sucking out a bee sting is ineffective and unhygienic. Plus squeezing or scraping a bee stinger can increase the amount of venom delivered.

What to do: the best way to reduce any reaction is to remove the bee stinger with a pair of clean tweezers and then treat with an antihistamine cream.

Warning: if someone has been stung multiple times or the person is suffering an allergic reaction (severe swelling and breathing difficulties) - call 999.

Myth: putting raw steak on a black eye will reduce swelling

Reality: putting raw meat on an eye injury could potentially contaminate the eye with whatever germs reside in the meat, including E.coli.

What to do: wrap some ice in a clean towel, or try a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel, and hold on to the area to reduce the swelling.

Warning: never place anything straight from the freezer onto skin because you'll give yourself an ice burn (akin to sunburn).

Myth: alcohol will warm a person with exposure or chills

Reality: while alcohol can make you feel flush and warm inside, it can actually exacerbate the causes of hypothermia in cold weather.

What to do: if you suspect a person is suffering exposure to the cold, move the person to a place that's warm and dry and remove any wet clothing and wrap a blanket around them.

Myth: making a tourniquet to stop a wound bleeding

Reality: a tourniquet on an injured arm or leg does cut off blood flow but to the entire area, which can lead to tissue damage.

What to do: applying direct pressure to the wound is the best way to control bleeding. Use a clean dressing, if available, or a towel, piece of clothing or your hand. Once pressure is applied, keep it in place. The less a bleeding wound is disturbed, the better.

Warning: if the bleeding will not stop or the person feels dizzy and faint - seek medical attention.

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